The Cubs have given us a busy day today, what with Eddie Butler’s surprise reemergence, Yu Darvish’s surprise bullpen session in front of Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer, and Kris Bryant’s surprise absence from the lineup and continued shoulder soreness. And I’ve decided I no longer like surprises.
But they still have a game tonight and Kyle Hendricks will take the mound for the Cubs. If you recall, Hendricks delivered an absolute gem and a usable outing in his two starts before the All-Star break, but was unable to keep it going once we got back. In his last time out, against the Cardinals, Hendricks lasted just 4.2 IP allowing 9 hits and three earned runs. He walked just one batter in that game – and has now walked just 5 batters in his last 25.2 IP (4.4 BB%) – but he’s clearly still trying to find the right balance in every outing. Hopefully, he can find it tonight.
Starting opposite Hendricks tonight is Diamondbacks righty, Clay Buchholz. Buchholz has made just seven starts this season, but has been very good throughout (2.56 ERA, 3.52 FIP). Of course, he’s been benefitting from an unsually high 80.3% strand rate and unusually low .236 BABIP – especially given his 20.3 K% and 38.9% hard-hit rate, respectively. Indeed, without generating a ton of grounders either, I’d say Buchholz is in store for some serious batted ball regression. Hopefully, the Cubs can help him with that.
Related note: He’s walked just 4.4% of batters this season, so swinging early and often might be the way to go. The Cubs are 3-3 out of the break, so a win tonight could put them back above .500 in the second half. Let’s see it.
Game Info
Monday, July 23 at7:05 CT on WGN, 670 The Score
Game Thread and Series Preview
Your game thread is down in the comments, so let’s have some good, clean (safe-for-work) fun today.
Starting Pitchers
Cubs: Kyle Hendricks (R): 3.99 ERA, 4.62 FIP; 2.72 K/BB
versus
Diamondbacks: Clay Buccholz (L): 2.56 ERA, 3.52 FIP; 4.43 K/BB
Arizona Diamondbacks:
- Jon Jay, CF
- Paul Goldschmidt, 1B
- David Peralta, LF
- Steven Souza Jr., RF
- Jake Lamb, 3B
- Ketel Marte, 2B
- Nick Ahmed, SS
- Alex Avila, C
- Clay Buchholz, P
Chicago Cubs Lineup:
- Anthony Rizzo, 1B
- Albert Almora Jr., CF
- Jason Heyward, RF
- Javy Baez, 2B
- Ian Happ, 3B
- Kyle Schwarber, LF
- Addison Russell, SS
- Kyle Hendricks, P
- Victor Caratini, C